New Orleans Saints leading WR Chris Olave missed his first game of the 2023 season at a very inopportune moment for fantasy football managers last week while dealing with an ankle injury.
Can fantasy managers trust Olave in their starting lineup heading into Week 16 in a Thursday Night Football matchup against the Los Angeles Rams?
Should You Start Chris Olave in Week 16?
Many fantasy managers had high expectations for Olave heading into his second year with the Saints after the team signed Derek Carr to help stabilize the quarterback position heading into the 2023 season.
For the most part, he has delivered for those who invested a second or third-round pick on him in their fantasy draft with 72 receptions for 918 yards and four scores through his first 13 games.
Unfortunately, he was unable to go against the New York Giants in Week 15 after picking up an ankle injury in the team’s Week 14 matchup vs. the Carolina Panthers.
After starting this week of practice as a non-participant on Monday, he was able to log a limited practice session on Tuesday. According to head coach Dennis Allen, he is expected to return to the starting lineup on Thursday Night Football against the Rams.
If his success against the Rams last season is meant to be any indicator of his outlook heading into Thursday, then he should be considered a WR1 for Week 16. Last year, Olave torched the Rams for 102 yards and a score on five receptions in the team’s 27-20 victory over Los Angeles.
This report is very encouraging news for Olave shareholders, which means fantasy managers should be able to trust Olave in their lineups in Week 16 as a solid WR2.
Trending Start/Sit Searches For Olave
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It also allows us to see the most popular trending searches, and we’ve jotted some of them down here to help provide some clarity on!
Should You Start Olave or Courtland Sutton?
Denver Broncos WR Courtland Sutton has managed to establish himself as Russell Wilson’s clear go-to guy in the passing game, which is evident by his 58 receptions for 770 yards and 10 TDs this year.
His matchup against the New England Patriots isn’t exactly ideal, though, as he has managed to produce a WR2 fantasy season on far fewer targets than most leading receivers and incredible touchdown production this season.
What I mean by “far fewer targets” is where I can draw a direct comparison to Olave. Sutton has 85 targets in 14 games this year, while Olave has 116 in only 13 games.
It is close, but I would prefer to go with Olave in Week 16 due to the safe target floor.
Should You Start Olave or Chris Godwin?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin exploded against the Green Bay Packers with 10 receptions for 155 yards on Sunday, which were both season highs.
While Godwin has managed to see 11+ targets in two straight games, his fantasy production has been wildly disappointing for the majority of the year.
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If you believe Godwin and Baker Mayfield are finally on the same page and want to ride the hot hand this week, then I don’t think that is unreasonable.
But I would prefer to roll with Olave, who has been far more reliable for fantasy managers throughout the 2023 season.
PFN Consensus Week 16 WR Rankings
1) CeeDee Lamb | DAL (at MIA)
2) A.J. Brown | PHI (vs. NYG)
3) Tyreek Hill | MIA (vs. DAL)
4) Amon-Ra St. Brown | DET (at MIN)
5) Justin Jefferson | MIN (vs. DET)
6) Cooper Kupp | LAR (vs. NO)
7) Mike Evans | TB (vs. JAX)
8) DJ Moore | CHI (vs. ARI)
9) Deebo Samuel | SF (vs. BAL)
10) DK Metcalf | SEA (at TEN)
11) Jaylen Waddle | MIA (vs. DAL)
12) Brandon Aiyuk | SF (vs. BAL)
13) Stefon Diggs | BUF (at LAC)
14) Rashee Rice | KC (vs. LV)
15) Puka Nacua | LAR (vs. NO)
16) Chris Olave | NO (at LAR)
17) Garrett Wilson | NYJ (vs. WAS)
18) Davante Adams | LV (at KC)
19) DeVonta Smith | PHI (vs. NYG)
20) Tee Higgins | CIN (at PIT)
21) Calvin Ridley | JAX (at TB)
22) Courtland Sutton | DEN (vs. NE)
23) Nico Collins | HOU (vs. CLE)
24) Amari Cooper | CLE (at HOU)
25) DeAndre Hopkins | TEN (vs. SEA)
26) Amari Cooper | CLE (at HOU)
27) Zay Flowers | BAL (at SF)
28) Jakobi Meyers | LV (at KC)
29) Tyler Lockett | SEA (at TEN)
30) Terry McLaurin | WAS (at NYJ)
31) DeAndre Hopkins | TEN (vs. SEA)
32) Drake London | ATL (vs. IND)
33) Brandin Cooks | DAL (at MIA)
34) Odell Beckham Jr. | BAL (at SF)
35) Josh Downs | IND (at ATL)
36) Jordan Addison | MIN (vs. DET)
37) Diontae Johnson | PIT (vs. CIN)
38) Chris Godwin | TB (vs. JAX)
39) Adam Thielen | CAR (vs. GB)
40) Jaxon Smith-Njigba | SEA (at TEN)
41) Noah Brown | HOU (vs. CLE)
42) Demario Douglas | NE (at DEN)
43) Joshua Palmer | LAC (vs. BUF)
44) Marquise Brown | ARI (at CHI)
45) Christian Watson | GB (at CAR)
46) Curtis Samuel | WAS (at NYJ)
47) Zay Jones | JAX (at TB)
48) Gabe Davis | BUF (at LAC)
49) Jerry Jeudy | DEN (vs. NE)
50) Romeo Doubs | GB (at CAR)
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